Copenhague is a furniture series designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec especially for the new buildings at the University of Copenhagen. In addition to a homely and welcoming expression, functional furniture qualities such as stackability, durability and ease of cleaning were important design requirements for the university. The Bouroullec brothers approach the task by merging design history with modern technology in an idiom with a strong and independent appearance in a broad and versatile series that embraces both public and private environments.

Copenhague Chair is two x two chair legs that meet in an inverse V and two moulded veneer shells that meet in the middle. The sharply bent veneer consists of multiple delicate layers laminated with cheesecloth to make the shell extra strong and give the chair the springy flexibility that is essential in a backrest. The technique was pioneered by the first cantilevered chairs of the Bauhaus school, but here, the university’s practical need for stackability has been incorporated into the design, which makes it possible to stack as many as eight chairs together. The stackability also comes in handy in a private home, making it easy to store spare chairs for extra dinner guests.